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When should tonsils be removed? (Tonsillectomy procedure)

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Tonsils, which have protective functions, can become harmful to the patient in some cases. Tonsils and adenoids should only be removed when necessary. Not every throat infection is a tonsil infection; an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist should monitor the patient before deciding on surgery. The conditions and requirements for surgery are well known. However, the decision should be made in light of these rules.

Situations in which tonsils must be removed:

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1. If the tonsils are too large, touching each other, they become obstructive in terms of breathing and nutrition.

2. If there are frequently recurring attacks of tonsil infection; If there are 7 attacks of tonsil infection in the last 1 year, 5 attacks in the last 2 years, and 3 attacks of tonsil infection every year in the last 3 years, tonsillectomy should be performed again.

3. If the patient stops breathing (apnea) during sleep,

4. If there is an increase in the size of one of the tonsils compared to the other, for diagnostic purposes due to tumor suspicion,

5. If the patient has a peritonsillar abscess or deep neck infection, that is, if the patient has an abscess involving the tonsil and its surroundings due to tonsil infection.

6. Tonsils should also be removed in case of severe tonsil bleeding.

Situations in which removal of tonsils is not absolutely necessary, but removal is beneficial because it reduces the patient's quality of life,

1. Bad breath due to chronic tonsillitis,

2. Tonsil stone,

3. Accumulation of white residue (magma) in the tonsil,

4. Snoring,

5. Difficulty in swallowing due to tonsil, difficulty in speaking,

6. Beta hemolytic group A streptococcal carriage,

7. Patients with febrile convulsions (convulsions due to high fever)

 

The operation is performed under general anesthesia. It is performed through the mouth, takes 30 minutes, and the adenoids of children are also removed in the same session. One day hospitalization is required.

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